Mammals that depend on being able to run fast have slender lower legs with flesh and muscle concentrated high, close to the body. On the basis of rotational dynamics, explain why this distribution of mass is advantageous.
2006-10-31 06:51:24 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Having the muscle at the top of the limb allows a greater leverage to be exerted.
2006-10-31 06:56:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Inertia is resistance to change. An object with low inertia will accelerate faster.
The rotational inertia of an object is found from
I = k MR^2
Where k is a constant (based on shape. For a sphere it is 2/5, For a solid cylinder it is 1)
M is the mass and
R is the average distance from the centre of mass to each point in the body.
So If the mass is concentrated close to the Centre of mass, R is low and consequently I is low.
2006-10-31 14:58:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It reduces the net rotational inertia of the leg allowing it to be moved more quickly with the same amount of work.
Doug
2006-10-31 14:54:52 · answer #3 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ball bearings. Its all ball bearings these days.
2006-10-31 15:02:23 · answer #4 · answered by HeadAche 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋